Israeli forces conduct ground raid into Syria's Quneitra province

Israeli military forces conducted a ground raid into Syria's Quneitra province on Thursday, entering the southern countryside village of Muallaqa with tanks and bulldozers, Syrian state media reported. The incursion represents the latest in a series of frequent cross-border operations by the Israeli army into southern Syria, actions Damascus consistently condemns as violations of its sovereignty.

Pattern of Escalating Incursions

These incursions have become an almost daily occurrence in recent weeks, often involving the establishment of temporary checkpoints and arrests, which have stirred significant local unrest. The raid follows artillery shelling by Israeli forces on Wednesday in the Tel al-Ahmar area near the village of Kwdana, also within the Quneitra region. Israeli authorities have not commented on the specific operation.

Long-Term Campaign and Territorial Expansion

According to Syrian government data cited in the report, Israel has executed over 1,000 airstrikes and more than 400 cross-border ground raids into Syria since December 2024. The report asserts that these actions have resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of military infrastructure. Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, Israel notably expanded its control in the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that breached the terms of a 1974 agreement between the two countries.

Regional Stability and Türkiye's Perspective

The persistent military activity in southern Syria contributes to the broader instability in the region. Neighboring nations, including Türkiye, which shares a long border with Syria and has its own national security concerns regarding Kurdish militias and terrorism, monitor these developments closely. Türkiye's foreign policy emphasizes the importance of territorial integrity and sovereignty for all regional states, principles directly challenged by such recurrent cross-border operations.